Hang on for a minute...we're trying to find some more stories you might like.

Email This Story

Send email to this addressEnter Your NameAdd a comment hereVerification

The 2016 presidential elections alerted the American people just in time for the 2018 midterm elections. The Democrats’ ‘blue wave’ occupied the House of Representatives amid the Republican-dominated government. In 2018, 81% of registered voters cited healthcare as “extremely important,” according to Gallup, an independent global analytics firm. CNN released its own national poll, led by independent research firm SSRS, asking 1,007 registered voters about their top issues and the favorability of the 2020 election candidates. Climate change was deemed ‘very important’ by 96% of registered Democrat/Democrat-leaning independent voters. According to Gallup, less than 30% of Republican voters deemed climate change as a priority issue in choosing a candidate for office. With the large pool of Democratic presidential hopefuls in the next election, voters are also anticipating the candidates to promote other pressing matters such as immigration policy, voters’ rights, and gun safety.

The mitigation of climate change has only been surveyed to voters as a possible election issue one other time back in 2014. In late 2018, the United Nations released its most unsettling climate change report– a crisis caused by climate change will strike as early as 2040. Annually rising temperatures will increase poverty and drought. Food security is less likely than food insecurity in emerging nations. The United States is the second-largest, behind China, greenhouse gas emitter. Air pollution has increased risks of human health, such as increased incidents of asthma, respiratory disease, cardiovascular disease, and cancer. Many of the consequences of climate change will define the quality of life for future generations, thus its upcoming mentions in future debates.

Healthcare has been a steadily popular topic throughout the years, with 80% of voters regardless of party considering it an important issue. Specifically, voters need to know if their candidates are for or against providing government-issued healthcare, also known as “Medicare-for-all.” Previous presidential administrations have struggled with healthcare, while many nations have provided universal healthcare to their citizens for years. The Trump administration has been criticized for poorly handling this issue, making empty promises to Americans. Republicans have a bad record with healthcare, such as cutting life-saving benefits, failing to protect patients with pre-existing conditions, and its attempts to undermine women’s reproductive health. In retaliation, Democrats have prioritized keeping Planned Parenthood and sex education accessible for women and students. Black maternal health has also been mentioned by several Democratic candidates, due to the troubling reports of the increased incidents of death in pregnant Black women.

Such issues are considered to be the previous and/or current administration’s shortcomings. Regardless, American voters have given their first impression of the up-and-coming presidential hopefuls, with some familiar faces: Senators Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, and Kirsten Gillibrand, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Representative Beto O’Rourke, Indiana mayor Pete Buttigieg, to name a few. A majority of candidates have pledged to refuse all corporate political action committees, also known as PACs.

It is obvious that President Donald Trump has several contenders. The first debate in June will show America what their future leaders could bring to the table. From the multifaceted issue of healthcare and diplomacy, voters need to voice their opinions. Politicians need to listen. Regardless of political party, Americans, both civilians and officials, need to actively participate at the table with open minds, ideas, and the courage to act upon them.

At one point or another, whether we like it or not, we must find literary devices for our English/Language Arts assignments. For some, finding and interpreting an author’s hidden message comes naturally;...

Each day, 29 people die due to someone being intoxicated while driving. People are at risk when their blood alcohol concentration otherwise known as BAC, is at 0.08% or higher. The risk of getting into...

Sleep,when you finally jump in your favorite covers and your head hits the suddenly cloud-like pillow. Sleep is everyone's favorite time of day, at least it is for teens. Then why don't we get enough of...

Northgate High School is built on the site of a murder that took place in 1899, and carries a cemetery on the campus holding the grave of the causality. Several students and staff members of Northgate...

Gamescom is the world’s biggest video game conference there is. This year it was held in Koelnmesse, Cologne, Germany from Monday, August 19, 2019, to Friday, August 23, 2019. If you like to be informed...

On Monday, August 19th, residents of Wellington, New Zealand, were surprised by a sudden addition to the roof of the City Gallery Wellington, overlooking the capital’s Civic Square. More specifically,...

The internet, created in 1991, has been alive and well for twenty-eight years now. First designed for the military to communicate quicker, it has now evolved into what some people would consider essential...